Razor cleaning device



JIM 16 1940 J. P. FLx-:cKENsTxNE 2,137,491

mzon CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15. 1937 gfOe 100e FZec/Eenme Patentedlan. 16,1940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAZOR MG Dmc! Joe Poe Fleokenltine, Glendale. Calf.

November l5, 1037, Sel'lll N0. 175,518

SCIllml.

The invention relates to devices for cleaning and drying razor blades.

Due to the fact that the cutting blades supplied with well-known safety razors are double edged and are made quite thin and flexible. much diffiouity is experienced in cleaning and drying them. Towels are repeatedly cut and damaged, and the blades themselves are very often dropped while being cleaned, with the result that they have to be retrieved with dimcuity, rewashed, and dried again. In addition to this,v the user is very often cut when he seeks to remove the blade from the folds of a towel. The blade becomes turned as regards its presumed position, and the user is badly cut when he works with the blade to remove it and inadvertently touches its cutting edges.

Some of the devices employed as a substitute for towels were made of layers of paper between which the razor blades were inserted and drawn so that the damage done by the blade would be limited-to a relatively inexpensive article rather than to a comparatively expensive towel. Such devices could be used only once. Difiiculty would be experienced in inserting the blade between the layers of paper, particularly an irregular blade, and the edges of the layers would become folded, rumpled, and damaged greatly. Then, once the blade was drawn through, the shaving debris left behind would cake and harden on the damaged edges and between the layers of paper in such a way that a repeated use at a later time was practically impossible.

Other devices have been provided to serve as a storage means for the blades as well as a cleaning agency, but these have resulted in a rusting of the blades from the moisture and the perspiration-saturated shaving debris carried into the device by the blade, the blade obviously remaining in contact with such moisture and debris for long periods of time.

Consequently, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which can be used repeatedly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning and drying device for razor blades which fosters no deleterious elects for the blades with which it is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described for receiving and cleaning razor blades of various peripheral contours with equal facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which receives blades readily between layers of absorbent material in guided relationship for movement along a predetermined path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be readily and eiilciently cleaned of shaving debris after each operation in preparation for repeated use, as a drying device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an absorbent fabric sheath between the layers of which a razor blade may be passed without injury to the sheath, the blade, or the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the class described for cleaning and drying thin, flexible razor blades.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for cleaning and drying devices of the class described enabling ready insertion of a razor blade therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described having a means impervious to water and shaving debris for protecting the drying portion from shaving debris.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which is simple in construction and operation, thoroughly eifective in its use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will become apparent from the drawing herein, the description relating thereto, and the appended claims Referring now to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, halved and separated;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are partly broken away perspective views of other embodiments of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3, comprises two rectangular side members I and I2 made of ilber boards Il covered on adjacent faces i6 with Canton iiannel I8, or similar absorbent material, and joined together by waterproof glue 20, or the like placed marginally along the faces I0 at the end edges 22 thereof. The Canton fiannel is turned with the nap or long fibers exposed,

and ls preferably secured over the entire area of its back to the ber boards I4 by: waterproof adhesive.

The members Il and I2 are of diiferent widths, member Il being the wider, so that the side edge 24 of member Ill extends an appreciable distance beyond the side edge 26 of the member I2. Edges 24 and 26 are bound with waterproof tape 26, preferably made of moisture proof cellulose acetate, which is of sufficient width to overlap marginally the faces I6 to prevent any absorbent material I6 from being exposed between the edges 24 and 26 or immediately proximate thereto. 1

The tape 26 protects the edges of the side members I6 and I2 and provides a semi-hard surface where the blade I is to be inserted which prevents the blade from -catching or becoming caught upon the edges 2l or 26 when it is being inserted between the members l0 and I2 to be drawn therethrough.

'I'he member I2 is pressed outwardly along the tape 26 over a linear length of the edge 26 ap- ;proximately the width of the razor blade 30, to provide a mouth 32 for the ready admission and guidance of the razor blade 30 therethrough. The contour of the mouth 32 follows closely the cross-sectional contour of the blade 30 so that there is provided a close t between the members I0 and I2 and the faces of the blade 30.

In this way a razor blade such as the one indicated by the numeral 30 and having an irregxlular edge 3l, may be inserted easily and safely into the device for cleaning and drying. The offset relation of the edges 2| and 26 provides a shoulder which makes it very easy to find the line of demarcation between the members I0 and i2, the mouth enables the use of the `device with a razor blade having irregular edges without injury to the device or the operator, and in addition to it serving as a guide, the contour of the mouth operates to bring any debris present on the blade into direct contact with the taped edges 24 and 26, whereby it will be wiped from the blade so that the absorbent material within is preserved and kept clean for drying purposes alone, and the debris gathered may be readily 'removed from the edges 2l and 26 so that the device may be used repeatedly without any loss of effectiveness.

'I'he embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 is one in which the side members 40 are of equal width and the mouth I2 is provided by offsetting both taped edges 46 so that a'blade 36 may be readily inserted without injury to the edges. On this embodiment the taped edges may be manually compressed towards each other to establish a pressure cleaning or wiping contact with the faces of the bla`de so that the shaving debris may be removed from the faces of the blade under pressure when the blade is passed therethrough. After the debris is removed by and from the taped edges 44, passage of the blade through the device for further drying operations may be made easily without any need for compressing the edges again.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. is one wherein the mouth 50 is providedvof a width appreciably greater than the width of the blade 60, and the contour of the mouth is carried throughout the width of the sides 52 along the path to be followed by the blade. With this construction, finger pressure may be brought to bear nrst upon the taped edges 64 to remove the shaving debris from the blade 60 upon the first operation and then next upon the sides 52 further back for drying operations. This construction and the finger pressure possible makes it feasible to prolong the useful life of the device. and of the absorbent material, additionally makes it possible to dry the blade in one operation, and serves to accommodate with equal facility and with universal applicability miscellaneous blades having various widths and thicknesses.

It will be observed lat the two sides 46 and 62 of each embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, are identically formed. 'I'his factor is of interest in reducing production costs. Both sides can be made and fashioned by the same tools without need for making. exceptions, and only when they are pressed together with the adhesive on onev or both edges of each member do they become distinctive and the device completed. In this way the uniformity of the product is assured and its simplicity manifested.

Consequently, although several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various and further uses, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured Aby Letters Patent of the'United States is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of boards, a-water absorbent covering on one side of each board, a waterproofing tape along one edge of veach board appreciably overlapping a portion of said side of each board, and means joining. said boards together along edges other .than the taped edges and the edges opposed thereto, with said sides and taped edges adjacent each other.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a pair of boards, a water absorbent covering on one side of each board, a waterproonng tape along one edge of each board appreciably overlapping a portion of said side' of each board, and means joining said boards together along edges normal to said taped edges with said sides and taped edges adjacent each other, one of said taped edges being in displaced relation to the other over a portion of their lengths to facilitate the entrance of. a blade therebetween.

3. A device of the class described comprising substantially rigid flat backing members disposed in face to face relationship, absorbent material secured to and covering each of said faces, means waterproofing adjacent edges of said members marginally to include a portion of said covered face of each member, and means securing said members along opposite edges other than said waterproofing edges in a unitary relation.

4. A device of the class described comprising two fiat backing members disposed one ontop of the other, fabricated absorbent material associated with both members covering adjacent faces thereof, flexible waterproof wiping means located along a marginal portion of said cover faces, said wiping means being located on adjacent edges of the two backing members, one of said edges beingv displaced outwardly out of alignment with the main portion of the backing member of which it is a part, to provide a mouth between said members for receiving and guiding a razor blade therethrough, andmeans for securing said members together as in unitary relationship.

5. A device of the class described comprising two flat members, means adjacent opposite edges of said members for holding them face to face, said members having a pair of adjacent edges displaced relative to each other in their cornmon plane, absorbent means lining the adjacent faces of said members, and means waterproofing said displaced edges over a marginal portion of said absorbent means.

6. A device of the class described comprising two ilat members, means adjacent opposite edges of said members for holding them tace to face, absorbent means lining adjacent faces of said members, said members having free edges relatively set so that one member projects beyond the other for the reception of a razor blade between said absorbent means, and exible waterproof wiping means along said adjacent free edges and in` overlapping relation.

"l. A device of the class described comprising two flat identical members, means adjacent opposite edges ot said members for holding them face to face, absorbent means lining the adjacent faces oi' said members, and means waterproong two adjacent edges of each oi said members, said edges being displaced away from each other slightly overa portion of their length to provide a mouth for the reception of a blade. l

8. A razor blade dryer comprising two flat rigid members in superposed relation, iiexible impervious wiping material along an edge of each member in registry, and absorbent material extending. from such impervious material over each face in registry.

Jon PoE mncms'rma. 

